There approached from the head of the room a tall,
handsome and urbane gentleman, who came and took her hand. He,
some of these others, she could not fail to know. She had come
hither without query or comment, and she stood silent and waiting
now, but her heart was racing, her color faintly rising in spite of
all her efforts to be calm.
[Illustration: They entered wide grounds.]
"My dear lady," he began, in a voice whose low, modulated tones
scarce could fail to please any ear, "I thank you for your presence
here. Will you not be seated? It is a very great honor that you
give us, and all of these gentlemen appreciate it."
Josephine St. Auban curtsied and, remaining silent and wondering,
assumed the seat assigned her, at the right hand of the tall and
grave gentleman who had escorted her hither, and who now
courteously handed her to her place.
"We meet absolutely without formality, my dear Madam," went on the
tall and kindly man who had greeted her. "What goes on here is
entirely unofficial and, as I need not say, it is altogether
private; as you will remember.
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